The whole process of color printing goes back to 1977. But we cannot forget the technological advancements made in earlier times. The concept of printing is dated back to 1900 when Kolbus started producing bindery machines. This machine became very popular and remained in production for 55 years. Then came the era of advertising agencies. One of the earliest names is McCann Erickson in New York. It was a very important milestone as it shaped the future of color printing. If there were no basic printing press, then there would have been no color printers. With the help of computer technology and modern electronic printing, it became a reality.

Cut to 1977, color printing became a reality. It was available to the general consumers in the 1980s but still, it lacked the initial push needed for any technology. The main reason was the price involved in colored printing. Colored copies were costly to buy and everyone shied away from them. During the start of 90s, color printing came to its full force. It’s because of the cost came down and technology also developed. If you want to know about this printing in detail, you have to know all about the color theory.

But before that, let us have a basic introduction about color printing. There are many different techniques to reproduce the images in color. We will start with the RGB pattern first.

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RGB Model

Red, Blue and Green (RGB) are mainly used in printers and projectors. We, humans, see colors in light waves. Mixing light is only possible by mixing red, blue and green colors. If you want the color to become lighter, then you need more light. RGB’s are used as primary colors and the further colors are created by mixing them. How do you use RGB in color printing? Whenever you hear any printing agency or company say they are using the RGB model, what they mean is they accept normal RGB format files. This type of file is preferred by every computer and mobile device as it effectively and efficiently represent different colors on your screen.

These Red, Blue and Green are coded in a language that is understood by the computer. RBG is also known as additive system as the color tone is created by adding these colors in proper proportion. Not only the computer screen emits light in a perfect way but also can change the intensity of every color emitted which will help you in your color printing. Let us take an example for better understanding. If you want the logo of your brand to be printed in color, and the color process is not correct, the logo will appear muddy. This is why it is advised to use RGB when working with files for any screen.

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CMYK Model

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key represents the CMYK model. It refers to the four different types of inks used in color printing. Any type of color you see on a physical surface uses this type of model. It is also known as subtractive color mixing model. The process works by masking the colors on a lighter background. The reason why it’s known as the subtractive model is that it subtracts the Red, Blue and Green color from white light. It will be fair to call it just like opposite of RGB model.

Almost every computer uses CMYK model. Even the ones you use at your home and office. That is why it is very important to understand the CMYK model. The color displayed by the surface depends on the parts which are not absorbed and thereby remain visible. The printer cartridge has four different colors – Cyan(C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black(K). Now, why should you care? Let us consider that you have received a full-color brochure order. In color printing of this massive scale, you can also go for RGB too but that will inflate your bill. The accuracy will be there but there also will be massive costs. Accurate color reproduction along with controlled costs can only be achieved with the help of subtractive color mixing method aka CMYK model.

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What are the advantages of color printing?

The impact of color printing is stronger than the normal black-and-white ones. We haven’t incorporated this type of printing in our daily lives as it is more expensive and the costs can be controlled by going with the conventional printing methods. There are many more advantages of using this printer. Some of them are explained below –

• Builds your reputation

Reputation is a big thing in any business. The name you built for yourself will take you a long way. Color printing gives you a sense of accomplishment and stability. According to a survey, 56 percent of people prefer this type of printing as it reinforces their professional image. Bigger and more established brands are inclined towards color printing as they have the budget and resources to go with it.

• Easy to distinguish

Color can be a great tool in distinguishing different things. Using color as a prime weapon in your print job yields great results. You can use color in your marketing campaigns in a neat manner. For ex – printing call-to-action in a distinguishable color makes it stand out and viewers are going to notice that.

• They are more compelling

Its all about being better from the competition. Color printing is the way out for you. If there are two different pages, people will prefer to read the one which is printed in color. Willingness to read the information increases by 80 percent. Color prints suit better to the eyes and therefore people become more interested in them.

• Higher retention value

When you are a brand with a sizeable audience then you have to keep in mind the interest of your existing customers. And color printing helps in retaining those customers. Be it a product launch or brand promotion, nothing works better than an array of colors.